Ebola: doctors ask for increment of hazard allowance

The immediate past President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele has called on the Federal Government to take the welfare of health workers seriously.
He also noted that the death of the lead consultant, Dr (Mrs) Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, who was infected with the Ebola virus disease while attending to the late Liberian,Mr Patrick Sawyer reputed to have imported Ebola Virus into Nigeria, re-emphasizes the need for government to institute schemes to guarantee the safety of health workers.
He also urged government to drastically review upwards the hazard allowance of N5,000 per month paid to medical doctors and other health workers in Nigeria.
Enabulele stated in a statement released to journalists in Abuja, “Her death at this time of national public health emergency is a major loss to the medical community and Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“The circumstances surrounding her death is another reminder of the grave hazards that health workers,particularly Medical doctors face in the course of delivering care to patients. It clearly re-emphasizes the need for government to more commitedly institute schemes to guarantee the safety of health workers,particularly the institution of a robust life Insurance policy. Certainly,it brings to light the need for Governments at all levels to take the welfare of health workers seriously and drastically review upwards the miserable hazard allowance of N5,000 per month paid to medical doctors and other health workers in Nigeria.
“I call on the Federal Government to memorialize and bestow on all health workers and other volunteers felled in the course of caring for Ebola Virus Disease patients post-humous honours.”
He also condoled her family,relatives,the management and staff of First Consultants Hospital, members of the medical community and indeed all Nigerians for this devastating loss.